The fall foliage is an annual wonder not to be missed. The downside of all that natural shock and awe, however, is the cleanup. Unless you have a thing for manual labor and can’t wait to get out there with the rake every October leaf blowers are the way to go. They’re portable, powerful, dependable and fast and they’ll save you from the stiff back that often follows a long day of raking in the yard. There are a lot of these devices on the market today designed to clear everything from your 100 square foot patio to your 5 acre spread. Below we’ve brought together the 10 best leaf blowers for your consideration.

The Best Leaf Blower

1

Hitachi RB24EAP Gas Leaf Blower

See More Reviews

See More Reviews

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

The RB24EAP Gas-Powered Leaf Blower from Hitachi has enough power to clear long driveways and big yards while still being small and light enough to be handled by just about anyone. Pros will love its power and versatility. Homeowners will love how easy it starts up and how quickly it clears leaves from the deck, patio, poolside, outdoor kitchen or driveway. The Purefire engine is remarkably quiet and produces far less emissions than most standard gas-powered blowers. And the two-fingered trigger helps alleviate trigger-finger fatigue. With a reasonable price and Hitachi’s 7-year warranty, it’s our runaway Best Choice. If you like to keep your garden neat and clean, make sure you also check our guide to the best pressure washers.

Key Features:

Moves 441 CFM of air.

Top air velocity of 170 MPH.

Low emission 2-stroke gas engine.

Two-finger throttle for sure grip.

Weight: 8.6 pounds.

Specification:

BrandHitachi

Pros

Moves a lot of air at high speeds.

Low risk of being overwhelmed by fumes.

Relatively quiet for a gas leaf blower.

Its light weight means just about anyone can use it.

Cons

Nice if it came with a shoulder strap.

2

Toro 51619 Ultra Electric Leaf Blower Vac

See More Reviews

See More Reviews

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

The Toro Ultra is rated at 410 cubic feet per minute and 250 MPH. There isn’t much you’ll find in the average yard that will stand up to that type of onslaught. And if that type of effectiveness is not enough for you the Toro Ultra also gives you the option of vacuuming up leaves and other small debris. This allows you to clear autumn refuse from the walkway without having to pile it up on your flower beds or the lawn.

Key Features:

Moves 410 CFM at 250 MPH.

Blows leaves away or vacuums them up.

Variable speed control.

Comes with clip-on refuse bag.

Weight: 8.5 pounds.

Specification:

BrandToro

Model51619

Weight8.5 pounds

Pros

Converts from blower to vacuum in seconds.

Has plenty of power to clear the biggest yard.

Variable speeds allow you to control where the waste ends up.

The 250 MPH top speed is pretty savage.

A first rate mulcher.

Cons

The power cord blues.

3

Dewalt DCBL720P1 20V XR Brushless Leaf Blower

See More Reviews

See More Reviews

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

The DCBL729P1 leaf blower from Dewalt is ideal for small to medium-sized jobs around the house like clearing the deck or patio in the spring or fall, clearing leaves away from the garage door and clearing the veranda. It weighs less than 10 pounds, moves up to 400 CFM of air and runs on a 20V lithium-ion battery. The DCBL720P1 is also a great tool to keep in the truck and use for cleaning up a worksite at the end of the day. With the battery under the motor, the tool is very well balanced and easy to use. Though runtime on a device like this isn’t going to blow users away like dry leaves it should be more than enough to complete any of the above-mentioned tasks with power to spare. Battery and charger included. And to keep your lawn neat, check out our cordless lawn mowers review.

Key Features:

Rated to 400 CFM.

Variable speed motor.

Lightweight and easily maneuverable.

Weight: 9.7 pounds.

Specification:

BrandDEWALT

ModelDCBL720P1

Weight9.7 pounds

Pros

A light and effective tool for yard touchups or cleaning the jobsite.

Variable speed motor lets you save battery power for when you really need it.

The lithium ion battery recharges fast.

Moves a lot of air at 400 CFM.

Cons

Pretty noisy for an electric blower.

4

Worx Turbine 12 Amp Corded Leaf Blower

See More Reviews

See More Reviews

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

We expect Worx to produce high quality power tools and their Turbine 12 amp leaf blower does not disappoint. It has one of the most powerful electric motors in its class, capable of moving an impressive 600 cubic feet per minute of air at 115 MPH. While it’s not the best looking electric leaf blower on the market we can overlook that because it clears big walkways like a gas-powered blower. The Turbine fan technology allows the blower to get the most out of its electric motor and the best news is you won’t have to pay through the nose for all this convenience and performance.

Key Features:

Ultra-light corded leaf blower.

Variable speed control.

Rated to 600 CFM and 115 MPH.

Dependable 12 amp motor.

Weight: 6.4 pounds.

Specification:

BrandWorx

ModelWG520

Weight7.2 pounds

Pros

Thinks it’s a gas-powered leaf blower.

The combination of volume and speed is hard to beat.

At only 6.4 pounds it’s light enough for anyone.

Attractive price point.

Cons

Looks only a mother could love.

5

Husqvarna 350BT Gas Backpack Leaf Blower

See More Reviews

See More Reviews

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

The 350BT Gas Leaf Blower from Husqvarna is the professional choice for those who need to clear long paths and driveways, parking lots, baseball fields and more. The gas powered 50cc motor produces 180 MPH air speed and move 500 cubic feet of air per minute. The ergonomic harness system is comfortable and practical and goes some way toward easing the strain of carrying the 22.5 pounds around for long stretches of time. You’ll clear just about everything with the 350BT, including small stones, light branches and more and you’ll never have to worry about straying beyond the limits of the cord. Because there isn’t one. For more great garden products check out our selection of the best robot lawn mowers.

Key Features:

500 CFM at 180 MPH.

Variable speed throttle.

Robust vibration dampening system.

Low emission engine design.

Weight: 22.5 pounds.

Specification:

BrandHusqvarna

Model965877502

Weight22.5 pounds

Pros

Moves a lot of air fast.

The 50cc motor is built for the long haul.

The low-emission engine isn’t the best but it’s pretty good.

The adjustable harness distributes the load pretty effectively.

Cons

Watch those fumes!

6

Greenworks GBL80300 Cordless Leaf Blower

See More Reviews

See More Reviews

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

With most every battery power leaf blower the 600 pound gorilla in the room is operational time. Some only provide 15 minutes or so and few will serve up more than half an hour. The Greenworks GBL80300 Cordless is the exception. When fully charged you’ll get up to 70 minutes of operational time, which is enough to handle any task around the house. But the GBL80300 Cordless doesn’t just run a long time, it’s also powerful as all get out, moving 500 CFM at 125 miles per hour. That’s absurd for an electric, battery power leaf blower. The cherry on this particular cake is that the GBL80300 generates only 60 decibels, so there’s a good chance it won’t run afoul of local noise ordinances.

Key Features:

Best in class 70 minutes per charge.

Rated to 500 CFM at 125 MPH.

Quiet operation (60 decibels).

80 volt lithium ion battery and charger.

Weight: 8.9 pounds.

Specification:

BrandGreenworks

ModelGBL80300

Weight8.9 pounds

Pros

The 80V lithium ion battery can be used with other Greenworks tools.

Will even tackle the wet, matted down leaves in the corner of the patio.

70 minutes of operation is almost unheard of for a battery powered blower.

A tough, strong leaf blower for big jobs.

Cons

Bigger than it looks in pictures.

7

Worx Turbine 56V Cordless Leaf Blower with Brushless Motor

See More Reviews

See More Reviews

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

The WB591 from Worx is part of a new generation of cordless leaf blowers that are making a splash in the market due to their gas blower-like power. In this case the 591 kicks out up to 465 CFM of air which is enough to clear some serious autumn debris from your driveway or patio. This type of air movement enables you to finish up fast. And that’s a good thing because, like most other battery operated leaf blowers you’re going to run out of power pretty quick. In this case about 15 minutes when you’re operating at full power. Still, that shortcoming aside, if you are looking for a powerful leaf blower that will allow you to clean up your jobsite at the end of the day, clear out the bed of your truck or even remove fresh powdered snow from your walkway the WB591 will do the trick. Our handy guide to the best riding lawn mowers features more great products like this.

Key Features:

56V lithium ion battery.

Variable speed control.

Built-in hanger for easy storage.

Moves up to 465 CFM of air.

Weight: 8.1 pounds.

Specification:

BrandWorx

ModelWG591

Weight9 pounds

Pros

Like all the best leaf blowers it does what it’s supposed to do.

The 56V lithium ion battery provides plenty of power.

Goes where corded leaf blowers can’t.

Relatively quiet for such a powerful tool.

Cons

15 minutes at full power.

8

Black+Decker LB700 7-Amp Corded Leaf Blower

See More Reviews

See More Reviews

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Most people don’t need to use a leaf blower all the time and when they do it’s usually just to perform a quick job like clearing leaves off the porch or away from the garage door. For those small but important jobs the Black+Decker LB700 Blower is the answer. At 4.4 pounds it’s one of the lightest leaf blowers out there in any category. But with its 180 MPH speed and its ability to move 180 cubic meters of air per hour it’s a compact dynamo that will make short work of those occasional jobs. And if you do decide to take on a bigger tasks you don’t have to worry about the LB700 battery dying on you, because this is a corded leaf blower.

Key Features:

Rated for 180 CFM at 180 MPH.

Easy to assemble.

Cord retention feature.

Weight: 4.4 pounds.

Specification:

BrandBLACK+DECKER

ModelLB700

Weight4.7 pounds

Pros

At 180/180 it’s more powerful than you think.

The cord retention feature is a nice touch.

So light anyone can use it.

Perfect for quick around the house jobs.

Cons

Not the best looking power tool out there.

9

Makita DUB182Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Leaf Blower

See More Reviews

See More Reviews

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

This is not a leaf blower for those with large properties. This is essentially designed for people to blow off their patio or deck from time to time. And it does a great job of that. It’s small enough to store under the sink, weighs a scant 3.9 pounds and there are no fumes to contend with. The grip on the DUB182Z is one of the most comfortable we’ve ever tested and provides a nice, sure grip with very little effort. That’s good because the offset design is a bit clumsy no matter if you’re right or left handed. The DUB182Z kicks out a modest 91 CFM which is enough to clear the patio or the deck around the pool or the front porch.

Key Features:

Generates 91 CFM.

Up to 18,000 rpm motor.

Up to 12 minutes of operation at top speed.

Rubberized handle.

Specification:

BrandMakita

ModelDUB182Z

Weight2 pounds

Pros

Very light and easy to handle.

Affordable and small enough to store anywhere.

The lithium-ion battery recharges quickly.

Rubberized handle provides a sure grip.

Cons

Design is a bit awkward.

Only 12 minutes of run time on a full charge.

10

Tacklife Leaf Blower Vacuum, 12 Amp 3-in-1 High Performance

See More Reviews

See More Reviews

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

The final item to make our best leaf blower list is this 3 in 1 beauty from Tacklife. While the company is not exactly a household name they’ve come up with a versatile, dependable, easy to use 3 way landscaping tool here that’s going to attract as much attention from pros as it does from homeowners. This is without a doubt one of the strongest consumer grade leaf blowers on the market, capable of generating 540 CFM at 240 MPH. That’s powerful enough to toss stones and knock the cat over so be careful when wielding this device. While you couldn’t really call it “lightweight” it’s nonetheless comparatively light for such a powerful tool. The mulcher effectively grinds most yard debris down to manageable size which means you don’t have to empty the refuse bag every 5 minutes.

Key Features:

3 in 1 blower/vacuum/mulcher.

Detachable 11.9 gallon debris bag.

12 amp 2 speed motor.

16:1 mulch ratio.

Weight: 11.1 pounds.

Specification:

BrandTACKLIFE

ModelGBV01A

Weight11.1 pounds

Pros

Powerful enough to handle the big jobs.

Light enough to use on the small jobs if you want.

Converts from blower to vacuum in about a minute.

540 CFM at 240 MPH!

Cons

May not be easy for smaller folks to control.

Leaf Blower Buying Guide & FAQs

How We Chose Our Selection of Leaf Blowers

Brand - When it comes to leaf blowers you’re going to find a lot of big brand names, simply because it’s not the kind of device a company can rely on to hold down the financial fort all by itself. So our list is going to be populated mostly by the B+Ds and Dewalts of the world because 90% of the world’s leaf blowers are made by big, multifaceted corporations such as those. We do however, always have our eyes open for well-made alternatives and a few of them did manage to find a place on our tally of the best leaf blowers.

Price - Leaf blowers run the price gamut from less than $50 to several hundred dollars. The price will be dependent in large part on the size of the motor, whether that motor is gas or electric powered, the power of the blower itself (as expressed in mph), the brand and other features. For our list we chose a fairly representative cross section ranging from the uber-affordable Black+Decker LB700 to our premium pick, the Husqvarna 350BT. If you have a small yard and only use the blower occasionally there’s no need to spend lavishly.

Reviews - As always we keep our ear to the digital ground to hear what people are saying. At the same time we take customer reviews in particular with a grain of salt. Simply because you can never be sure of the impartiality of the source. We’ll grant a little more weight to professional reviews, but we still want to check things out for ourselves before making a decision.

Features To Look For in Leaf Blowers

Weight - Weight is one thing you will definitely need to keep in mind when you purchase a leaf blower. Large, powerful, gas-powered leaf blowers can weigh more than 20 pounds. And while that doesn’t necessarily sound like a lot it will definitely start to weigh on you after half an hour or so, maybe less. Electric leaf blowers tend to be considerably lighter. The downside being that they are also less powerful. So if you need to clear a long walkway it might take a while.

Strap - With the really light electric blowers there’s no need for a shoulder strap. But the heavier the device gets that more important it will be to have a strap and that the strap is comfortable and durable. The strap should be long enough to allow the leaf blower to hang at your side at right around hip level. So you can point it downward and make an easy, natural side to side motion.

Storage - The big, gas-powered leaf blowers need to be stored somewhere safe, away from the living area of the home - either in the garage or tool shed - with the tank completely empty. It’s not particularly wise to store this type of leaf blower in the basement due to fumes and fire risk. Electric leaf blowers by comparison can be stored anywhere you can find the space. Some of them are small enough to easily fit in a cabinet under the kitchen counter.

Battery - Most of today’s best electric leaf blowers use lithium-ion batteries because they’re light and charge quickly. They also tend to drain pretty quickly because leaf blowers require a lot of power. That’s just the nature of the beast. If you have a small area you want to clear from time to time like a patio the battery power leaf blower will be fine. For larger areas though you’ll need something with a cord or a gas-powered unit.

Blow speed - The amount of air a blower pushes out combined with its speed determines its effectiveness. If you have an average sized property and use your leaf blower pretty regularly, you should look for at least 150 mph out of the nozzle and for the blower to move at least 200-300 CFM or more. If you need to clear a long driveway and multiple walkways you’re going to want even more speed and a greater CFM rating or you’ll be at it forever. The most important thing is to avoid making any choices based solely on either MPH or CFM. Look for the optimal combination of the two.

Noise level - Exactly how loud a particular leaf blower is will depend on a lot of things. As a general rule however, leaf blowers, particularly gas leaf blowers, can get pretty noisy. Therefore you should check to see if there are any specific noise regulations in place in your neighborhood before buying a leaf blower. You may have never seen one of your neighbors use a leaf blower because they are banned in your city or town. Even if they are not. You may have to buy an electric one to be in compliance with local regulations, since they tend to be quieter.

Additional Considerations

Ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones - Even the quietest leaf blower is going to make some pretty serious noise. Especially if you’re operating in a fairly closed space. And the largest, gas-driven leaf blowers are going to make your ears ring like you just came from an AC/DC concert unless you do something to protect them. That means exercising some common sense and purchasing either ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones and then wearing them any time you take the leaf blower out for a spin.

Heavy duty extension cords - Corded electric leaf blowers don’t actually have a 100 ft long cord extending from their motor. They rely on an extension cord that plugs directly into the device. Buying that extension cord is up to you and you should not scrimp on it. You’ll need a heavy-gauge cord that is specifically designed and rated for outdoor use. In most cases you’re going to want a cord that’s at least 100 ft in length and at least 14 gauge.

Compatibility - Cordless leaf blowers typically cost more than those that use an extension cord because the battery is expensive. If you are considering a cordless, battery operated leaf blower then you should also consider any other battery-operated power tools you might have. Oftentimes, if you stick to one manufacturer, you’ll be able to use the same batteries across multiple devices, which helps mitigate the cost.

Types of Leaf Blowers

Gas - Gas leaf blowers are more powerful than electric ones and you won’t ever have to worry about reaching the limit of the cord. If you use the blower a lot and/or you have a large property to cover you should probably consider a gas powered model. The downsides are the cost and the fumes, which have been known to overwhelm the unsuspecting.

Corded - With a corded electric leaf blower you don’t ever have to worry about running out of gas or the battery dying on you. It’s the only type of leaf blower that provides that type of assured performance. (Of course during a blackout it won’t be much use but hopefully you don’t experience a lot of blackouts where you live.) At the same time however it won’t be a lot of use if you need to clear a large property since you’ll be limited by the length of the extension cord.

Cordless - Cordless leaf blowers are not constrained by proximity to the power source. They’re also lighter than gas and quieter as well. (Although “quieter” is a relative term and you should still wear earplugs.) Also, there are no gas fumes with an electric leaf blower like this. The downside is that you’ll only go as far as the battery will take you.

Leaf Blower FAQs

Q: What does CFM mean on leaf blower?

A: CFM stands for “cubic feet per minute” of air moved. A leaf blower rated at 540 CFM moves 540 cubic feet of air per minute. That’s a lot of air. In most, (not all), cases the size of the mouth on the leaf blower is a good indication of the CFM. The bigger the mouth the higher the CFM.

Q: What is a good cfm for the best leaf blower?

A: As a general rule 200 to 400 CFM should be enough for decks, patios and driveways. If you are planning to use the blower on your entire property and that property is more than an acre in size you’ll want something in the 400 to 700 CFM range. Simply because anything weaker and you’ll be out there all day blowing leaves. You can get leaf blowers rated to several thousand CFM but few are the homeowners that would ever need such a behemoth.